IPNEWS: The Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander B. Cummings, has called for a major shift in how Liberia negotiates agreements with concession companies operating in the country’s mining sector.
In a video message released on Wednesday by the ANC Press and Public Affairs Office in Monrovia, Mr. Cummings argued that the current concession agreements are outdated and no longer serve Liberia’s best interests.
According to him, many of these agreements were developed during a period when Liberia was emerging from civil war and was widely considered a high-risk investment destination. As a result, he said, the terms heavily favored foreign companies at the expense of national development.
Mr. Cummings described the existing arrangements as “outdated” and “colonial,” emphasizing the need for a more equitable framework that reflects Liberia’s current stability and growing economic potential.
He proposed that instead of relying primarily on royalty payments or profit-sharing models, the government should negotiate for greater ownership stakes in mining operations.
This, he noted, would ensure that Liberia benefits more directly from its natural resources rather than receiving what he termed “handouts.”
Additionally, the ANC political leader suggested that Liberia should consider establishing its own mining companies to actively participate in the exploration and extraction of natural resources. He said such a move would strengthen local capacity, increase revenue generation, and promote sustainable development across mining communities.
Mr. Cummings stressed that adopting a new approach to concession agreements would help maximize national benefits and ensure that Liberia’s natural resources contribute more meaningfully to long-term economic growth.
